Page 91 of The Catalyst

I walk backto the house, dripping in sweat and carrying a handful of job applications. The sun is starting to set, which is a major blessing. I swear, I need air conditioning and a large glass of water before I jump into a cold shower.

I turn the corner to my house and pause when I see Martin’s slate gray car in the driveway. He sits on the hood, looking down at his phone. What the hell is he doing here?

“Hey,” I say as I approach and he looks up, a smile on his face.

“It’s about time you showed up. I was about to start organizing a search party,” he jokes with a teasing look in his eyes.

I roll mine in response. “You could’ve told me you were coming.”

“I did. I texted you hours ago before I headed out.”

Dag nabbit!

“Sorry. I had my phone on silent. Those two idiots won’t stop calling or texting me.” At this rate, they’ll use up all the texts on my mom’s phone plan. I would just block them, but I can’t walk into the phone store and have them blocked without my mom since she’s the account holder. I really hope they come up with a way someday to just block someone from the device without all the hassle involved. Wouldn’t that be something?

“Well, you requested to spill your guts over a drink and I thought you would be hungry so, I really hope you like Chinese food. Grand Hunan makes the best lo mein outside of ChinaTown.”

What? I didn’t say that.

“I said one day. I didn’t say today.”

“That’s not how I interpreted it. Plus, what are you going to do? Sit around and wallow in self-pity into an invisible pint of Häagen-Dazs?” He tilts his head, waiting for my answer. Then, he adds, “No one should be alone and sometimes, you need people. There’s nothing wrong with that. It doesn’t make you any less strong to depend on other people whether that’s for emotional support or otherwise. Plus, the lo mein is to die for.”

Damn him.

I roll my eyes. “Fine, but I need a shower first.”

He grins. “Good. You need one. You stink.”

I laugh as we walk up the porch and into the house.

CHAPTER 36

BETH

My wet hair lays on my shoulders as I sit at the brand new table Martin bought and drink from the bottle of Smirnoff Ice he gave me. The crisp flavor glides over my tongue and I hum from the deliciousness.

Martin sits beside me with the containers of food, opening them up so we can eat what we want.

“That smells so good,” I mutter before setting down my drink.

He grins before handing me one of the sets of chopsticks. “Do you know how to use these?” he asks.

“Fo shizzle.” I break the chopsticks apart before settling them in my hand.

“Show off.” He laughs before he grabs his drink, taking a long gulp from the bottle. My eyes zero in on the bulge in his throat and how it moves up and down with every single swallow. Heat flashes across the back of my neck as I pick up some noodles with the chopsticks, trying to ignore the attraction growing in my belly.

I’ve been extremely aware of how hot Martin is since before he grabbed my butt that day, but it hasn’t felt this overwhelming before. Maybe it’s just because he’s the only one I can count on right now. My mom is in rehab, Judy is biased, Oliver is a traitor, and I can’t risk Shanti opening her mouth.

I’m alone except for the man beside me.

“So,” he starts as soon as he sets down the bottle. “Tell me what happened.” He turns his gaze to me as I chew on the noodles.

“Jesus! I barely started eating.”

“And, you’re stalling,” he observes quite skillfully. “Tell me. What is the deal with you and my cousin?”

I stare at him, trying to figure out some way around this, but other than escaping to the bathroom, I see none.

---